Practical Ways to Get Fresh Ideas
Fuel Your Creativity with Insights from Other Fields
Finding Inspiration in Other Industries
I used to work as a bedside nurse, and a few years ago, I wrote an article that explored the similarities between healthcare and product management. At the time, my goal was to transition into a product management role, and I was trying to connect the dots for potential hiring managers in any way I could.
Remarkably, I still receive messages from people who find value in that article, which is a great reminder of how inspiration often comes from unexpected places. With that in mind, let’s discuss how exploring insights from other fields can add fresh value and unique perspectives to our personal and professional lives.
Experience Creates Blind Spots
A former manager (thanks, Terry!) once told me, “Sometimes a person’s biggest strength can also be their biggest weakness.” It’s a concept I often reflect on, and I something I believe perfectly encapsulates a potential risk with gaining a lot of experience in one field of industry.
Experience is a double-edged sword. Spending years deeply embedded in one industry can make it easy to fall into familiar routines and established problem-solving methods. But, we can mitigate that risk by making time to explore ideas and practices from different industries.
Practical Ways to Bring Fresh Ideas from Other Fields
Here are some actionable ways to spark creativity with insights from outside your field:
Read Outside Your Industry: Dive into books, articles, and podcasts in areas like psychology, design, and manufacturing. Observe the problem-solving approaches in these disciplines and consider how you might apply them to your work.
Engage with Diverse Professionals: “There are no new problems” is a quote I find more relevant every day. Connecting with professionals in different industries can help you see your own challenges from a new angle. Platforms like LinkedIn (pro-tip update your feed preferences) and cross-industry networking events can offer a wealth of insights.
Emulate with a Twist: Look at how other fields approach common tasks or challenges and consider how you might adapt their strategies. For instance, the way designers approach critique and feedback can be adapted into a constructive feedback model to enhance collaboration and innovation across a broad range of industries.
Take Action Challenge
Today, find one article, podcast, or video outside of your industry. Reflect on a key takeaway, and brainstorm one way to integrate that insight into your work this week.
Challenge yourself to incorporate at least one cross-disciplinary idea into your toolkit and see where it takes you.
Bonus Challenge: Share the resource you find in the comments below. I’d love to check it out.